ONE of five tenants chosen to run a housing trust preparing to take over Crewe and Nantwich Council's houses has resigned, accusing the council of betrayal.

Herbert Mullock, 66, was elected as a tenant member on the board of the Wulvern Housing Trust, which is looking to buy up all the council's 6,000 homes.

But the retired maintenance engineer of Waverley Court, Crewe has quit the post on principle, saying he is furious over the way the council is treating leaseholders in the sell-off.

The news comes as an embarrassment to council bosses backing the plans who have just issued a newsletter to tenants introducing Mr Mullock and the other board members.

Mr Mullock has been chairman of the borough's leaseholder association for the past two years.

He said: 'Three years ago we decided to become leaseholders basically because, as pensioners, it would be cheaper in the long run than paying the exorbitant rent for a two-bedroom flat.

'Leaseholders, for reasons unknown, are classed as private tenants. But this is untrue ­ the borough council still own our properties. We still have to abide by all their rules and regulations and have their permission to carry out even basic cosmetic alterations.

'Because I believed at the time that transfer could be better for all its tenants, I put myself forward for election to the shadow board.'

Mr Mullock was elected with a brief to represent leaseholders' interests and attended all the board meetings until he became disillusioned.

He explained: 'Leaseholders are banned from the votes on transfer because we are classed as private tenants.

'But Wulvern Housing will buy our homes from the council, even though we are banned from that vote.

'They will use our homes as part of their plan to raise collateral to upgrade all the other stock, but not ours.

'Wulvern Housing is supposed to be run by the tenants for the tenants, but at the end of the day, from what I can see, the people at the head of Wulvern Housing will be the very same people who now run Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council housing.

'I cannot see anything will change. I think their promises are wildly optimistic.

'From being a 'yes' person, I now have no hesitation in saying to all council tenants that they should reject out of hand by saying 'no' next year.

'I am just appalled by the way the council are dealing with this. I feel they have betrayed all the leaseholders.'

The council's cabinet member for housing, Maureen Grant, said: 'Leaseholders are not being betrayed at all.

'They cannot benefit from the modernisation because they are not tenants. But more money will be spent on maintenance and I know there are plans for landscaping so they will benefit from that as well.

'No one forced these people to become leaseholders. It was entirely their choice. I would advise Mr Mullock to stay on the board and represent the interests of all leaseholders.'